Our agricultural community Veggies from Mexico celebrates the “Day of the Dead”
Every year the companies that are part of the agricultural community Veggies from Mexico celebrate the Day of the Dead. With altars, food, music, and festivities they celebrated their loved ones who are no longer with them but are still in their hearts.
This Mexican tradition is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated of the year for Agrícola Belher, and the company celebrates yearly with an altar contest. The families of the agricultural workers enjoyed an afternoon of dancing and color, as well as tasting Mexican snacks at the fair, the children oversaw animating the celebration with their dances.
For several years, Agrícola El Nazario has organized for its workers the traditional “Xantolo”, which is a popular tradition for its employees who come from San Luis Potosí, Veracruz, and Hidalgo. It is a way to make them feel at home. During the celebration, the meaning of Xantolo (Chantolo) was shared, which is also known as the “feast of the souls”, where the Nahua people, through arts such as theater, music, dance, and painting, shared their culture and identity. On this occasion, the Veggies from Mexico team had the opportunity to attend this traditional festival where they had a very pleasant and joyful time.
As is a tradition at Grupo Chaparral, Day of the Dead altars were set up in each of its agricultural operations (Campo El Diez, Campo Esmeralda, Campo La Paloma, and Empaque Tombell). The altars were set up with the participation of farm employees and their families, as well as administrative and management personnel.
Undoubtedly, the Day of the Dead has a strong relationship with agriculture, as it is believed that loved ones who are no longer with us return to enjoy the flavors and smells of the food offered to them.
Altars include a variety of fruits, including oranges, tangerines, bananas, and apples, and flowers, especially cempasúchil, whose bright orange color is associated with the event.
One of the most emblematic “ofrendas” is the “pan de muerto” a type of sweet bread prepared just for this occasion. Its circular shape represents the cycle of life and death, while the small balls on top symbolize the bones of the deceased.
In addition to food, other agricultural items are also placed on the altars, such as grains and seeds, like corn, beans, peanuts, and pumpkins. These products represent the fertility and abundance of the Mexican land.